Spencer Hospital has provided renal dialysis services to hundreds of individuals since opening the Milton & Ethel Warner Dialysis Unit in August 1994. In August 2002, a satellite dialysis center, the Warner Dialysis Center - Spirit Lake, opened, enabling Spencer Hospital to provide this life-sustaining treatment to more people in need.

More than 30 million Americans suffer from diseases of the kidney and urinary tract. About 90,000 die each year because of these diseases. More than 300,000 Americans require - the use of an artificial kidney machine - to stay alive.

Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney failure followed by uncontrolled or poorly controlled high blood pressure. Chronic kidney failure must be treated with regular dialysis or by receiving a kidney transplant.

Dialysis is the process by which the blood is cleansed artificially rather than by the kidneys. Hemodialysis treatments are required three days per week and each treatment lasts approximately four hours. The Milton and Ethel Warner Dialysis Unit at Spencer Hospital provides treatment six days each week, Monday through Saturday. The Warner Dialysis Center - Spirit Lake provides care on Monday, Wednesday,and Friday each week. Patients receive regular evaluations from our nephrologist, nursing care and nutrition counseling.